6 Surprising Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Perhaps the most embarrassing health problem faced by men, erectile dysfunction or ED is not an easy issue to deal with, on a psychological level. Discussing personal details with a doctor you rarely see may not be a comfortable prospect. However, it could save your sexual life or indeed, your life in its entirety. Affecting one in every three men at some point in time in their lives, erectile dysfunction could be caused by a number of underlying conditions that, at surface level, may seem unconnected.

Common causes of erectile dysfunction may be physical or psychological. When making a diagnosis, one of the first causes that your physician will consider is cardiovascular disease. Getting and sustaining an erection depends largely on the smooth flow of blood into the penis. In cardiovascular conditions such as arteriosclerosis, the arteries get hardened and constricted, making it difficult for you to get and keep an erection long enough to have satisfactory sex. Other physical causes include diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertension, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, spinal injuries, strokes, thyroid problems, and Peyronie’s disease which is a form of connective tissue fibrosis.

Well, the ones listed above are the most common causes of ED. However, there are few surprising causes that you may never have considered, but that could be causing ED symptoms in your body.

1. Anti-Balding Treatment/Hair Loss Drugs

Some medications used to treat male pattern baldness and hair loss may have side effects such as loss of libido and erectile dysfunction in men. According to the Journal of Sexual Medicine, medications like finasteride (found in Proscar, Propecia, and similar drugs) and dutasteride (found in Avodart) reduce the quantity of dihydrotestosterone in blood. While these drugs do help with hair loss, they may also cause ED and loss of sex drive in men.

2. Periodontitis/Gum Disease

Figuratively, your gums and your penis are at opposite ends, so what connects them? According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, it is possible for conditions like periodontitis or gum disease to increase your risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction. The study states that gum disease is caused by blood flow problems, and it is likely that the gum inflammation may give rise to inflammations in other parts of the body too. Linked to increased risk of heart disease, gum disease may also have a bearing on the quality and intensity of your erections.

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